A light drizzle had just started to slack off as the cab pulled up to the curb. Garrett's mind was a web of indecision. Since the reopening of the bookstore, he had known that the time would come. He hadn't been avoiding Maya. There just never had seemed to be a good time for this. He had to take the initiative to make the time for it. Nothing could progress until they had a nice long talk.

"Eight fifty, buddy. Hey!" Garrett's attention snapped to the driver. He handed him a ten and stepped out. The cab pulled away, leaving the man standing before the revolving doors. They had never seemed so ominous. Garrett had plenty of explaining to do. Unfortunately, he didn't know exactly where he had been nor where he was going. Maya was very good at clearing the air. It was her essential nature, really.

Taking a deep breath, he pushed through and made the slight quarter turn to enter the shop. It was five minutes past closing time, so hopefully, no one else would be there. He looked at himself, straightening the blue silk shirt he was wearing and shaking the legs of his khaki pants. He was as nervous as a kid going to prom. There was little reason for it, as Maya was usually the picture of calm. Of course, that was yesterday.

"It's not going to kill you." There was laughter in Aurum's voice and rightly so. Ghost was looking at the coffee like it was medicine. It certainly tasted like medicine.

"It's the end of the brew. It's true. I won't lie to you, but it'll put hair on your chest."

"Why would I want that?" Ghost wrinkled her nose and exited her office coffee cup in hand and the green accounting ledger tucked under her arm. "Tea for..." She stopped short, Aurum nearly bumping into her from the lack of notice and very nearly swallowed his toothpick.

"Oh, I'll go lock the doors. Sorry, but that shop's closed, buddy. You can get your books tomorrow."

"He's not here for books, Mister Mellitus. I invited him." Ghost mustered a smile and went to dump out the foul brew at the coffee bar sink. A white lie that would keep Aurum from hanging around unnecessarily. That's all that was. "Why don't you see yourself out, Aurum. I can handling closing today." She ignored her employee's well meaning grumbles and washed out the cup, grabbing some hot water from a spigot on the still running coffee machine. She tested the pot and checked that the grounds had been cleaned out properly, but of course they had. It was only a matter of time before Aurum was gone and it was Ghost and Garrett face to face in a locked building. Hm. Was this a wise decision?

She calmly set about her business of selecting a tea bag and plopping it into her steaming water. No sugar. "Would you like to see my office? Only a few last things to distract me there." She motioned that way with her ledger and didn't exactly wait for him to assent. She just went.

The same wood of the circular counter made a fine base for a table top of frosted glass. The top was polished smooth and so it was a perfect writing surface, if a bit cold to fall asleep on. Underneath the glass, through the fog of the frost, Ghost had placed notes and pictures. Her business card was there: Vega Altair, Owner and Operator. A silly drawn picture of Ghost that almost looked like she was smelly instead of made of air compliments of a certain 8 year at the Mansion. Certain resident's pictures were there too. Garrett and Neena and Sam, all together as a candid. Ghost shaking Luke's hand, and Kaz lurking nearby. Katrina nearly strangling Calley as he went after a young mutant named Koga. Even Shin in his silly jogging suit. One picture that was conspicuously absent was the picture Garrett had given her as a birthday present.

The white porcelain tea cup went onto a rubber coaster. The ledger on the glass in front of her chair. Ghost, however, did not sit down behind the desk. Even if she wished the physical barrier between them, Garrett deserved more than that. She took a seat on one of the guest chairs. Stiff backed black wood. They weren't meant to be comfortable, they were meant to get the job done. "To what do I owe the pleasure?"

He could see her behind the coffee bar, speaking to an employee. Feelings welled up into his throat. What could he say to make up for the time that had passed? Nothing. He would just have to do what he could from the present. Beads of sweat were appearing all over his smooth cranium. He pulled a handkerchief and dabbed at it. The temperature in the store was fine. It was much more stable than Garrett was.

"Oh, I'll go lock the doors. Sorry, but that shop's closed, buddy. You can get your books tomorrow." Garrett began to open his mouth to state his intentions when Maya answered. He had been invited? How could she know he was coming? All became apparent as she hurried the employee off. She was delegating authority well, much like she had at the Grand Opening. This was a new and improved Maya, one of solid backbone and sure footed confidence. It was at once uplifting and a bit scary. He had been the one to be her anchor in the past and now things had decidedly changed.

Expert fingers made tea as she breezed through the store."Would you like to see my office? Only a few last things to distract me there." Garrett shuffled along behind her, a feeling of anxiety stirring about fiercely within his chest. It was as if he were going to the principal's office in school, not meeting an old friend. Entering behind her, he left the door open. She enjoyed flowing air and he needed the realization of space, lest the room close on him. Her desk was a cornucopia of pictures. His fingers traced over the various faces. It seemed like a thousand years ago to him.

Taking a seat in one of the hardwood chairs, Garrett watched as she joined him in one of the others. he surely suspected that she would put the desk between them. It was a small bit of relief and a timid ember of hope as there was nothing between them. Except for the time that had passed and the fraying it had caused. At least it seemed friendlier."To what do I owe this pleasure?"

Was it sarcasm? Was it real? Garrett breathed in through his nose and out through his mouth, deeply while trying not to be too obvious. He looked over at honey brown eyes. Eyes that had been on his mind for some time."Well, I figured it was long overdue that we talk. There's been quite a bit of time lost and I have quite a bit of explaining to do. I will do my best, but honestly, I am still in a fog. " He sighed and rubbed his temples.It's a long and arduous journey I have been on, Maya. I am still unsure of where I am headed, but I know that throughout all of it, there has been one constant in my mind. You."

Sarcasm? More like extreme verbal formality. What better place to begin than the beginning. The more uncomfortable she was the more she would distance herself from the situation in every way. He may as well have been in the Principal's office for all the comfort she offered.

Ghost crossed her legs, a simpler feat in pants. Another change. Sure, she preferred skirts still, but she no longer bristled at the utilitarian nature of the pant suit. She was all business now a days. In a way it connected her to more people. It also enabled her to distance herself as she so chose.

She listened to his words, taking her careful eyes off of him only to reclaim her cup and cradle it between her fingers for warmth. The clear water was slowly being tainted by tendrils of darker seeped fluid from the bag. For the most part the dark and light liquid sat separate. It only swirled a bit from the movement from desk to hand. Too bad things were never that clear cut. Ghost dragged the tea bag around to better mix the liquids.

"I am not sure you owe me anything Garrett." She would entertain an explanation, but he certainly was a grown man with his own life. It was clear that he was living it all on his own just fine... except for mildly frightening bouts of obsession and... fog. "I really hope that you find the balance that you seek and I am sorry..." that she wasn't invited along on that journey? no... "that you have not yet found peace." Her eyes flicked up from her cup to his face. What resources did she have to commit to him? Ghost was certainly playing things close to the chest.

Maya crossed her legs as she listened. She sipped at her tea and it seemed that Garrett was growing donkey ears as he spoke. He had planned to sound reasonable and came out like a kook. How could he encapsulate his angst and teetering sanity into a nice, shiny package? He couldn't. So, it would have to be more kook talk."I am not sure you owe me anything Garrett." That seemed ominous."I really hope that you find the balance that you seek and I am sorry..... that you have not yet found peace."

Okay, this was going to go down quick unless Garrett got himself together." I'm sorry to seem so out of sorts. I haven't been right since the Haywire incident. You know that as I do. I am not sure if that's even what is causing my problem anymore. I left the Mansion because I saw the people there become violent to a degree I never expected, at Raina's birthday. It really upset me that mutants, after dealing with the Registration Act, would turn on each other to the point of near murder."

It was coming easier now, like a gangrenous wound being bled." So I went to the Sanctuary. I knew what I was getting myself into. Unfortunately all that has happened there was more feeding on the demon. I was enjoying the dark side of my personality. I don't anymore. I just want to be free. I want to help others, but not under someone else's banner. There seems to be no home for me." He made a little happy sigh. It felt so nice to let some things come out of his mouth.

" I'm sorry to act strange. I suppose being around you helps me to open up, since I feel safe around you. This face of the Sanctuary bit has been just that. A face. A mask that I have been wearing. There is probably as much love for me there as there was at the Mansion before I left. Sometimes I feel like I just don't fit in anywhere." He chuckled a bit out of stress and relief's collision." I'm surprised you are still calling me a friend with all I have done lately."

A ginger sip from her porcelain cup was the last physical barrier she had to hide behind. The last warmth for her cold dreaded fingers. She was very, very calm as she listened to the story Garrett told because it was so very distant. He had excluded her from that point in his life and now she was getting the report of sorts. Yes, that's what this was. He really needed someone to confide in and she was proud to be that person. Like an AA sponsor, except instead of an alcoholic, Garrett was a recovering mutant supremacist.

"Just like that? Poof, no more?" There was no emotion to the words, not even curiosity. She was staying so very neutral. She did need to know how stedfast he was in this new path. "What made you change your mind?" Because if it was something kooky she wasn't going to be able to sit here comfortably for much longer.

It made her at least a little sad to hear that he felt he had no home. Even without being an Xman, did he not feel safe at the Mansion? That was supposedly his reasoning for leaving before... when they had another long awaited talk... before he disappeared off the face of the planet.

Ghost sipped her tea again. It was fast getting cold. "Of course I call you friend." Even if for a time she had only a name to call friend rather than a face. "And it seems clear to me that if you don't feel that you fit anywhere that you will have to carve out a place for yourself." Where that place might be... only Garrett would know. And if she were invited to at least watch him grow in his new pursuits would be up to him as well. Again the question of resources came to mind. What did he want from her? She didn't dare ask. She'd only just agreed to this talk.

"Just like that? Poof, no more?" Garrett tried to recall the feeling he had felt when Kealey had removed the darkness from his heart.It was returning now, though it had been a slow skittering process. It felt like small insects of negativity were slowly finding their way back to their hive. He was fighting off the invasion, which was giving his body and mind a serious workout." I met a woman named Kealey Quinn at the Sanctuary. She has the ability to manipulate emotions. Maya, " Garrett looked deep into her eyes so she knew the depth of the words he spoke." It felt like the demon was pulled out of me all at once. I haven't felt so pure of heart. It was such a relief. I want to get back to that state naturally."

He smiled at her. Even if she didn't feel the same as she once did, he still loved her. He would always love her. " It was like waking from an endless nightmare. I suppose that's why I seem so off now. Having the veil removed like that and seeing how beautiful and powerful I could be in the name of love and peace, then having the darkness return to my vision.It's quite a mess." As time passed between them, he felt that he could be close to her again. Not today or tomorrow. One day it would happen though.

"Of course I call you friend and it seems clear to me that if you don't feel that you fit anywhere that you will have to carve out a place for yourself." Truer words couldn't have been voiced. The words he really needed to hear come out of her mouth. Garrett had no delusions about the two of them just magically patching things up on the spot. That was for fantasy. Compassion and understanding. That was all he really needed. Now he needed to say something she was waiting for. " You are right, Maya. I need to do that. I hope you'll be with me as I make that journey. You have always been in my heart, but I believe I'll need more than just a memory for what I must do. I can see you are plenty busy now. Perhaps I will get a place nearby and you can come visit. Or we can start over and go on dates again. Whatever it takes and however long it takes, I want you back in my life."

Suspicion. Not about infidelity or anything as ridiculous as that. Garrett was... obsessed. To a point that sometimes scared her. If he had dated someone else during his "dark time" or whatever... even if that made her a little sad, she believed it would have been good for him. No, her suspicion lay with the emotionmancer and her ability. Ghost had met one once, but hadn't experienced the power. Was he reliant on her now? Did she do something good on purpose? Those Sanctuary folk weren't all bad, but they weren't all good either.

A small crease formed between her eyebrows. The first sign of emotional leak through.

Could the demon really be gone? She thought he would struggle with it his whole life, and to just have it plucked out... Sigh. She wanted to believe it. Really she did. But if she believed it right off the bat, she was being foolish, right?

Her eyes locked on his. He was so... different. And at the same time he was still the same. "It's nice... to have a goal." Oh what was she saying? "If you want help looking for a place, count me in. I get the impression that I'd be visiting a lot anyway so shouldn't I get a say?" She smiled a bit stiffly. That was a step in the making amends direction, right? Honestly, Ghost was so busy... she'd filled her life because he'd left a hole. In order for him to fit... things were going to have to be different.

"It kinda sucks... change." She sat her empty cup on the rubber coaster. "But life wouldn't be the same without it, hm?" Sensing a natural break in the conversation she stretched in her chair. C'est la vie. At least she was loosening up a little bit.

"It's nice... to have a goal." That was simultaneously expected and unexpected. He deserved the lack of emotion, the distance, but he surely didn't expect the cold manner in which it was delivered. The time apart had put a strain on both of them, but it was becoming clear to Garrett that he was the one worse for wear."If you want help looking for a place, count me in. I get the impression that I'd be visiting a lot anyway so shouldn't I get a say?" That was a bit of an improvement. A stiff smile and furrowed brow at least brought some kind of emotion from Maya, albeit awkward.

His smile softened and he leaned against the wall. " I'd really appreciate the help. I have little sense of things of that nature and would probably get taken for a ride by a savvy landlord. " He realized he shouldn't have gone so far as to suggest the lack of friendship, but he needed to vent. Emotions were a messy thing, but they were proving to be a necessary step in Garrett's healing process, whether he liked it or not. Kealey had done something wonderful for him. It surpassed the initial sensation even. She showed him how much more there was inside him, other than the sick brooding.

"It kinda sucks... change. But life wouldn't be the same without it, hm?" More truth from the snow topped angel. She was relaxing a bit, the initial stiff and unapproachable behavior loosening up. " Life would be impossible without it. Movement is necessary or else stagnation occurs. I'm sorry for coming on so strong. Honestly, I just let my heart speak when it comes to you. Maybe it's because you are my first true love. They say you never get over your first. I don't really want to, but I can surely see that the old ways are old for a reason." He stepped through the threshold of the office and stretched himself. Turning on his heel, he peeked back in at her." Want to get out of here and get a drink or something? It's heavy to me so it must be stifling for you." He hoped she would accept. Whatever was going to occur between them, their friendship was a vital piece.

She was glad he accepted her offer. Ghost stood and smoothed her pants down her legs. Not the same as a skirt, but even her habits could adapt. "Believe it or not, I've become quite the business woman. And I can drive a hard bargain if need be." Speaking of, she had some books to balance. Ghost slipped around to the proper side of her desk and tipped open the ledger. She was still listening, but she had to make sure she had all her credit card receipts from the batch out.

She tried to gloss over the bits about first love. The wound was still a bit raw there and she just wasn't sure about love anymore. Love between people was entirely possible, but maybe not for her. Not romantic love anyway. Sam was right, she really didn't get some things so maybe it was just best to avoid them.

"A drink? Like what kind?" Long fingers flicked across the keys on the calculator. She was getting pretty good at this, but she had to sit down to do it properly. "If I get the night deposit together, we can do something on the way to the bank. Give me five minutes and I can have this wrapped up." She would have to leave a note for someone to get the trash in the morning. In fact, she stopped number crunching to that that before she forgot.

By the time she'd finished checking off the boxes and zipping up the pouch that had the night's deposit, at least ten minutes had passed and Ghost was scratching the back of her head. "Sorry." The sticky note about the trash went on the counter, Ghost locked her office with a ring of about 5 keys, not quite janitorial but she was working on it. "So where to?" Ghost motioned to the back door with the little blue fake leather pouch with the little lock on it. She had a key for the back door too and waved to a little camera that sent a feed back to Jacobs & Jacobs Security.

She seemed as satisifed as a banker might be at the approval of a loan."Believe it or not, I've become quite the business woman. And I can drive a hard bargain if need be." She still moved in a fluid manner, yet it was from one job to another. No longer the carefree feet that moved through the green grass of the Mansion grounds. That was another time. Garrett smiled, though he doubted she would see it. She was immediately submersed into her work. " You are an excellent businesswoman. Look what you have done here. From clerk to owner in a matter of months. That is the American dream." That was about all the lip service he had to offer.

"A drink? Like what kind?" That was a valid question, considering their ages and the situation. he should have said, 'I need a drink.' It was true. Everything had unravelled and now he was just the ex who didn't get it. He was glad that Maya could read emotions like Kealey could. "If I get the night deposit together, we can do something on the way to the bank. Give me five minutes and I can have this wrapped up."" I don't know. I suppose it doesn't make sense right now. I'll walk with you to the bank, so you don't have to do it alone. I am sure you are used to doing it yourself, but hey, I'm here, right?"

Five minutes became ten, so Garrett had turned and wandered around the store somewhere in between. Sitting and staring at her while she did her work would only add fuel to the fire. He was a relationship arsonist, setting it ablaze and watching it burn. She deserved someone who was stable and could enjoy the growth of her business and life with her, not to simply watch from afar. When he heard her rustling about and apologizing for the delay, he assumed it was time to go. She came out and put a note on the counter and locked things up, motioning at the back door with her deposit bag as she shuffled out and locked everything up." I have no idea where you bank at. You lead the way and I'll follow."

Another motion of the handbag and they were walking side by side down the alleyway. She'd been afraid he'd meant something stronger than tea and the fact that he was reconsidering his offer only firmed up that suspicion. They were essentially the same age and that meant he was still illegal for alcohol. Somehow she didn't imagine her clucking her tongue at him would do a lick of good.

"Er, well the bank isn't all that far. I picked one close to my bus stop in case I ever got off on time to catch the last one... Silly me." In all actuality, she'd fallen asleep in the store more than once and missed the bus so many times, it was almost automatic just to ghost home to the Mansion whether it was too late for the bus or not.

"So... what will you do now?" The bank was a scant three blocks away. Her deposit slip already in the bag. It was rather like a book deposit or a video return. A silver pull down dumped her bag into a pile with so many other small business owners'. Ghost lingered with her hand on the deposit bin. Was it goodnight already? She could certainly use the sleep, but she didn't want to abandon him... or have him feel abandoned.

Maya's demeanor seemed to lighten the moment she walked out the back door. Perhaps she could take the business face off? She could be Maya Swift as opposed to Vega Altair? It could have even been the presence of natural air currents. Whatever the case, it was a welcome change to her stiff exterior inside the building."Er, well the bank isn't all that far. I picked one close to my bus stop in case I ever got off on time to catch the last one... Silly me." Garrett chuckled a bit. " What on Earth do you need a bus for?" She was silly. It was nice.

Don't get too excited. You are still the odd man out here. Of course. He was still the guy who had disappeared without a trace. The same guy showing up and trying to act as if nothing had happened. Garrett felt he should be happy that she hadn't quickly ghosted out and flown away once she was free of him. If he could somehow escape himself, he probably would have as well."So... what will you do now?" She's talking to you, open your mouth.

"Hmm? Um, I really have no clue. I am glad to see you are doing well with your store. My mind has just been a mess, for the most part. I'm sure I have said things that may have put you on guard. I think it is good that we are friends. That's really the best thing for us." As they covered half the space to the bank, he stopped again, guilt and regret coursing through his veins." Oh, I'm sorry if you didn't like the gift I got you. I noticed you hadn't said anything about it, so I took it as it wasn't the best idea. I just wanted to give you something thoughtful, but I can see now it was probably creepy. Anyway..yeah." He started to shuffle along again. Why had he just said that? Was he losing his mind completely?

"What on Earth do you need a bus for?"

She ducked a bit embarrassed actually. "Well, it's... I... don't really know, I guess." She smiled slowly. Okay, so it really was pretty silly now that she thought about it. "At least I never did anything as foolish as buy a car. And the bus is kind of nice." She ducked again as if he might have taken a swipe at her. "Okay, okay it's not nice, but it's normal you know? Sometimes it's nice to just be boring." The bus was brain dead time. She didn't have to think or worry about falling out of the sky onto stranger's trucks or anything like that.

Good to be friends... he'd said. Best thing for us. She nodded slowly, each nod a nail in that house of cards that was her conviction. Well it was certainly the safest. He'd said it himself. They were friends. It was for the best that they remain friends at least.

"Oh, I'm sorry if you didn't like the gift I got you. I noticed you hadn't said anything about it, so I took it as it wasn't the best idea. I just wanted to give you something thoughtful, but I can see now it was probably creepy. Anyway..yeah."

She tensed slightly and took a sidelong glance at Garrett. "Well, I can tell a lot of thought went into a gift like that, but I'd honestly been trying to move on." She thought it probably wouldn't be wise to say how she'd (with help) burned everything down including the thorn brambles where they had their first kiss. Nothing personal, but it had to go. Just like her attachments to her past. It was only holding her back and she had so much ahead of her now. She didn't know if he would ever come back or ever be the same. Well, neither of them were the same, but that was beside the point.

"Did you enjoy your time in Japan?" Was not what she was expecting herself to ask. She'd thought about how she was going to give him a piece of her mind for visiting her mother without her permission, but.... that just never was who she was. Ghost lingered, hands casually and somehow still a bit formally clasped behind the small of her back.

The bus humor had gone well and for a moment, it seemed as if they might be able to actually accomplish the task of friendship. Everything that had passed between them contained a kernel of difficulty and hard work. Love was not supposed to be such a constant effort. Perhaps he had been delusional the entire time. Nonetheless , it made for a nice moment. He thought it odd that she kept ducking. Touch was something that rarely occurred between the two of them. Perhaps it was something bound in their particular gifts. Or they were just awkward people when put together.

The mention of the gift only strengthened the strangeness between them. Her pointed pleasantries, meant to soothe, only made garrett more irritable. Really, how had they managed before? His time at the Mansion had seemed years behind him. He was truly a different person then. Who was he now? She was moving on. He should have been doing that too, instead of dwelling endlessly on something that was little more than memory.

"Did you enjoy your time in Japan?" More awkward times ahead. Thankfully, Nature stepped in and separated the two before they had to endure such a train wreck any longer. The sky opened up and a monsooon quality downpour drenched the two. She could easily avoid the rain drops. Garrett, not so much. The rain felt good, washing the thick stench of regret from him. He smiled and covered his eyes, shouting a bit in tyhe thunderous roar of the rain." I'll talk to you later! Gotta get out of this mess!" He waved and quickly ran off, ducking around the corner and running alongside others who had been caught in it. Once he was alone, his pace slowed as the smile dropped from his face and his mind started to wander and linger.